TITLE : Bending In Beam

OBJECTIVE : To determine the elastic modulus (E) of beam specimen by method of

deflection.

APPARATUS : Dial gage, fixed support, load meter, beam specimen, Mild Steel beam,
Brass beam, Aluminum beam, Vernier caliper, ruler, and load.

DIAGRAM :

Figure 1 The instrument for calculating bending in beam.

Figure 2 The dial gage

THEORY : Pure Bending

R 2 = ( R  y )  ( L / 2)
2 2

= R 2  2 y  y 2  L2 / 4
Hence,
2 Ry  L2 / 4

R  L2 / 8 y

E M
 Where, M = W(x)
R I
bh 3
I=
12
E.8 y W ( x)
Therefore; 
L2 I
( E.I .8) y
W 
L2 ( x )
PROCEDURE :

1. The equipment is first set up as shown in Figure 1.

2. The dimension of the cross sectional beam is measured.
3. The dial gage is set to zero as the initial reading.
4. Next, apply the loads on the load holder.
5. Then, record all of the readings of the dial gage.
6. Repeat step 4 by increasing the load and record the readings at every increment
until 8 readings.
7. Step 6 is repeated by changing the beam to aluminum and brass beam.

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS:

Load (W) Beam maximum deflection (  0.01mm)

Mild Steel Aluminum Brass
2 23.4 22.0 14.5
4 47.6 48.2 31.2
6 73.6 71.5 47.6
8 98.2 93.4 64.5
10 123.2 119.6 82.4
12 148.8 147.8 99.4
14 174.4 170.2 117.0
16 198.8 191.6 133.8
Table 1.0 Readings for deflections in beams.

CALCULATIONS:
i. Mild Steel

Beam Dimension: 1000mm  20.4mm  4.54mm

Modulus of Elasticity, E : 210 GPa I: 1.591  10 10 m 4
L: 50cm x: 15cm

Load (W) Beam max. deflection (mm) E (GPa)

2 0.234 251.8
4 0.476 247.6
6 0.736 240.2
8 0.982 240.0
10 1.232 239.1
12 1.488 237.6
14 1.744 236.5
16 1.988 237.1
Table 1 Readings for beam maximum deflection for Mild Steel.
 Deflection 0f mild steel beam

18
16
14
12
Load (N)

10
8
6
4
2
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Beam max. deflection (mm)

Dimension of beam for Mild steel

4.54mm

1000mm 20.4mm

3
bh (0.0204)(4.54  10 3 ) 3
I 
12 12
= 1.591  10 10 m 4

For y = 23.4 x 10-4m , W = 2N

W .L2 ( x)
E
I .8. y
= 251.8 GPa
Average value for E = (251.8+ 247.6+ 240.2+ 240.0+ 239.1+ 237.6+ 236.5 + 237.1) GPa
8
= 241 GPa

ii. Aluminum

Beam dimension : 1000mm  20mm  6mm

Modulus of Elasticity, E : 70GPa I : 3.6  10 10 m4
L : 50cm x : 15cm

Load, W (N) Beam max. deflection (mm) E (GPa)

2 0.220 118.4
4 0.482 108.1
6 0.715 109.3
8 0.934 111.5
10 1.196 108.9
12 1.478 105.7
14 1.702 107.1
16 1.916 108.7
Table 1.2 Readings for maximum deflection of Aluminum.
 Deflection of aluminum beam

18
16
14
12
Load (N)

10
8
6
4
2
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Beam max. deflection (mm)

Dimension of beam for Aluminum:

6.0mm

1000mm 20.0mm

3
bh (0.02)(6.0  10 3 ) 3
I 
12 12
= 3.6  10 10 m 4

For y = 2.2 x 10-4m , W = 2N

W .L2 ( x)
E
I .8. y

= 118.4 GPa

Average E = (118.4 + 108.1 + 109.3 + 111.5 + 108.9 + 105.7 + 107.1 + 108.7) GPa
 8
= 110 GPa

iii. Brass

Beam dimension : 1000mm  21.8mm  6.6mm

Modulus of Elasticity, E :104.1GPa I : 5.222  10 10 m4
L : 50cm x : 15cm

Load, W (N) Beam max. deflection (mm) E (GPa)

2 0.145 123.8
4 0.312 115.1
6 0.476 113.1
8 0.645 111.3
10 0.824 108.9
12 0.994 108.4
14 1.170 107.4
16 1.338 107.3
Table 1.3 Readings for maximum deflection of Brass.
 Deflection of brass beam

18
16
14
12
Load (N)

10
8
6
4
2
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6
Beam max. deflection (mm)

Dimension of beam for Brass:

6.6mm

1000mm 21.8mm

3
bh (0.0218)(6.6  10 3 ) 3
I 
12 12
= 5.222  10 10 m 4

For y = 1.45 x 10-4m , W = 2N

W .L2 ( x)
E
I .8. y

= 123.8 GPa
Average E = (123.8 + 115.1 + 113.1 + 111.3 + 108.9 + 108.4 + 107.4 + 107.3) GPa
8
= 112 GPa

DISCUSSION:

 When the experiment have be done, the value of Modulus of Elasticity, E for each
beam is calculated. Since, there are distinction values of experiment by compared
to theoretical values. Comparing values is described below:

 Mild Steel
E ( Theory) = 210 GPa
E ( Experiment) = 241 GPa
Percentage of error is given by,

E (Theory )  E ( Exp)
% Error 
E (Theory )

= (241 – 210) x 100

210
= 14.8 %

 Aluminum
E ( Theory) = 70 GPa
E ( Experiment) = 110 GPa

Percentage of error is given by,

 E (Theory )  E ( Exp)
% Error 
E (Theory )

= (110 – 70) x 100

70
= 57.14 %

 Brass
E ( Theory) = 104.1 GPa
E ( Experiment) = 112 GPa

Percentage of error is given by,

E (Theory )  E ( Exp)
% Error 
E (Theory )

= (112 – 104.1) x 100

104.1
= 7.6 %

 Some of the errors appear while running the experiment. They could be the
inefficiency of the apparatus or slightly human errors. As for the apparatus, it has
been used for many repeated times and may experienced wear thus affected the
 accuracy. For example, the dial gage is not consistent when the load was applied.
If the experiment repeat once again as same load, it showed a different readings.
This means that, the dial gages is not reliable in order to measure the readings.
The specimens also experience wear same as the dial gauge because its have been
used many times before this experiment is conducted. When the specimens is
measured by 1 meter ruler it is not straight as the 1 meter ruler.
 One more precautions that could be useful to reduce the errors is when placing the
load. The experimenter must place it slowly and tend not to release it so hard as
the dial gages were so sensitive and may detect more loads that it supposed to be.
 Besides, the errors may comes from the distance of x. There may have little
difference distance of x at right and left sides. It can cause the loaded was not
balance accurately.

CONCLUSION:

By using the method of deflection, we obtain that the values of elastic modulus is:
 E (mild steel) = 241 GPa
 E (aluminum) = 110 GPa
 E (brass) = 112 GPa

REFERENCES:

1. Mechanics of materials, 3rd Edition, McGraw Hill by Ferdinand P. Beer, E. Russell

Johnston Jr. and John T. DeWolf.
2. Mechanics of materials, 3rd Edition, McGraw Hill by R. C. Hibbeler.
3. Statics and Strength of Materials, 2nd Edition, Mc-Graw Hill. Jensen and
Ehenoweth.